So, are we all excited about England's game tonight? Hello? Is this thing on?

It may be all over bar the shouting for England in Brazil, but Martin Lipton has checked in from Belo Horizonte with a couple of reasons to get at least a smidgen excited.

And it's all about the youth, as the likes of Barkley, Wilshere et al get a run out tonight.

He writes:

"And as he opts to give his shadow squad a run-out and a taste of the World Cup, against a Costa Rica side who will go into the final Group D clash as favourites, Hodgson and England need to see the future is not THAT bleak.

"Starts for Phil Jones, Luke Shaw, Jack Wilshere, Ross Barkley and Adam Lallana is a signal of the next direction, even as the England fans get the chance to say ''thanks'' to Frank Lampard."

Everyone's favourite party pooper Louis van Gaal ensures that my excitement is sufficiently dampened by popping out a defensive-looking 5-3-2 and eking out a 2-0 win.

Van Gaal is always going to be judged harshly. He has been throughout his career as he has always been in high profile jobs, and his current post – and his next, for that matter – come with that same pressure.

Yet despite the Dutchman's tactics taking the sting and excitement out of a game that had the potential to be your proverbial barnstormer, it is difficult to argue with the veteran's methods. After all, Chile, Spain and Australia all pose very unique and different threats.

Van Gaal has taken all three of these separate challenges, set up his side slightly differently for each and has come away with nine points. Today's game may not have been pretty, but his job is to win games and he appears to have an alarming knack for doing just that.

It is one talent to be able to identify the opposition's strengths and weaknesses accurately and another entirely to be able to formulate and execute a plan that works to exploit those. What bodes well for Manchester United fans is how van Gaal has achieved that on the biggest stage this month.

Tonight of course sees England bow out of the competition with their final group game against surprise group winners Costa Rica, in Belo Horizonte.

Frank Lampard, who will captain the side - which features 9 changes from the Uruguay defeat - says the Three Lions are playing for pride.

2:07 pm

Mike Walters

It's Wimbled-NO for England from tennis fans

Tennis punters washed their hands of England's World Cup flops - four years after the All England Club were inundated with requests to show the football.

In 2010, when England faced a must-win tie against Slovenia in South Africa, Wimbledon bosses refused to show the match on TVs in the public concourses because they feared crushes and banks of empty seats on show courts.

But public apathy towards Roy Hodgson's dunces in Brazil was so overwhelming that the All England Club received NO petitions to show the dead rubber with Costa Rica before start of play yesterday.

England were eliminated from the World Cup inside the tournament's first week, before a ball had been struck in anger on the strawberry fields of SW19, after 2-1 defeats against Italy and Uruguay rendered last night's encore in Belo Horizonte meaningless.

A spokesman for the AELTC said: "There was considerable interest in the World Cup, and whether England matches would be shown on public concourses at Wimbledon, four years ago.

"It would be fair to say there has been less public demand to see the football this time. We had no specific requests to show England v Costa Rica.

"Four years ago, when Jermain Defoe's winner against Slovenia booked England their ill-fated date with Germany in Bloemfontein, Wimbledon chiefs drew the blinds in the main Press centre next to Centre Court to stop fans peering through the windows at monitors showing the football.

2:27 pm

Alex Richards

Stephen Keshi's future

The South African FA have declared that Nigeria boss Stephen Keshi has NOT signed a deal to become their new boss.

Reports in Nigeria claim that Keshi - who led the Super Eagles to success at the Africa Cup of Nations last year and has them on the verge of a last 16 place at the World Cup - has agreed terms to become the new South Africa coach after the World Cup.

But the SAFA have rejected such claims.

"That article...is devoid of any truth as SAFA will only make the decision on the appointment of the new coach in mid-July," said SAFA president Danny Jordaan.

"Keshi's name is among the various names that have been thrown around by the media. SAFA has not yet arrived at any decision regarding the appointment of the new senior men's national coach.

"That decision will be pronounced once the World Cup is over."

Keshi was named African Coach of the Year in 2013 after Nigeria's win in South Africa 16 months ago.

2:56 pm

Alex Richards

The King of Uruguay

Uruguay meet Italy Group D, and La Celeste need a win to progress to the knockout rounds.

Key to such success will undoubtedly be Luis Suarez, and here's the Liverpool man - who notched twice against England - talking about his "spectacular" recovery from a knee problem.

3:07 pm

Alex Richards

Uruguay XI

Early talk that Oscar Tabarez will select the same side for La Celeste that beat England last time out.

That means no return for Maxi Pereira after suspension, and Diego Forlan remaining on the subs' bench.